Patents by Inventor Gregory R. Eberl
Gregory R. Eberl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20220032007Abstract: Catheters with deployable instruments (e.g., needles) can damage tissue if the instrument unintentionally deploys during use. Described herein are devices and methods for controlling the position of a deployable catheter instrument. In one embodiment, a catheter can include an instrument slidably disposed within an inner lumen of the catheter and coupled to at least one protrusion, as well as a retraction stop coupled to the catheter. The catheter can further include a biasing element coupled to the instrument that can urge the instrument proximally such that the at least one protrusion abuts against the retraction stop, as well as an advancing mechanism to selectively engage the instrument and urge it distally. In some embodiments, the biasing element can be omitted and a deployment stop can be included distal to the retraction stop. These configurations can prevent unintentional instrument deployment and provide greater positioning precision during instrument deployment.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Michael G. Curley, Fredrick J. Kim, Michael T. Howard, Erik Delly, Gregory R. Eberl, Jeffrey J. Lesica
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Publication number: 20210393322Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering fluid to tissue during ablation therapy are described herein. An exemplary device can include an elongate body having an inner lumen, outlet ports, and an ablation element configured to heat tissue. A flow resistance of the elongate body can increase along a length of the elongate body containing the outlet ports in a proximal to distal direction. This can be accomplished by, for example, varying outlet port size or relative spacing, decreasing a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen through which fluid can flow using a flow diverter or tapered inner lumen sidewalls, or limiting a ratio between a total area of the outlet ports and a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen. Adjusting flow resistance of the elongate body can provide more uniform fluid distribution or a desired non-uniform distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Michael G. Curley, Gregory R. Eberl, Jason M. Clevenger, Michael T. Howard, Erik Delly
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Patent number: 11083871Abstract: Catheters with deployable instruments (e.g., needles) can damage tissue if the instrument unintentionally deploys during use. Described herein are devices and methods for controlling the position of a deployable catheter instrument. In one embodiment, a catheter can include an instrument slidably disposed within an inner lumen of the catheter and coupled to at least one protrusion, as well as a retraction stop coupled to the catheter. The catheter can further include a biasing element coupled to the instrument that can urge the instrument proximally such that the at least one protrusion abuts against the retraction stop, as well as an advancing mechanism to selectively engage the instrument and urge it distally. In some embodiments, the biasing element can be omitted and a deployment stop can be included distal to the retraction stop. These configurations can prevent unintentional instrument deployment and provide greater positioning precision during instrument deployment.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Thermedical, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Curley, Fredrick J. Kim, Michael T. Howard, Erik Delly, Gregory R. Eberl, Jeffrey J. Lesica
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Patent number: 11013555Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering fluid to tissue during ablation therapy are described herein. An exemplary device can include an elongate body having an inner lumen, outlet ports, and an ablation element configured to heat tissue. A flow resistance of the elongate body can increase along a length of the elongate body containing the outlet ports in a proximal to distal direction. This can be accomplished by, for example, varying outlet port size or relative spacing, decreasing a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen through which fluid can flow using a flow diverter or tapered inner lumen sidewalls, or limiting a ratio between a total area of the outlet ports and a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen. Adjusting flow resistance of the elongate body can provide more uniform fluid distribution or a desired non-uniform distribution.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Thermedical, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Curley, Gregory R. Eberl, Jason M. Clevenger, Michael T. Howard, Erik Delly
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Publication number: 20190336729Abstract: Catheters with deployable instruments (e.g., needles) can damage tissue if the instrument unintentionally deploys during use. Described herein are devices and methods for controlling the position of a deployable catheter instrument. In one embodiment, a catheter can include an instrument slidably disposed within an inner lumen of the catheter and coupled to at least one protrusion, as well as a retraction stop coupled to the catheter. The catheter can further include a biasing element coupled to the instrument that can urge the instrument proximally such that the at least one protrusion abuts against the retraction stop, as well as an advancing mechanism to selectively engage the instrument and urge it distally. In some embodiments, the biasing element can be omitted and a deployment stop can be included distal to the retraction stop. These configurations can prevent unintentional instrument deployment and provide greater positioning precision during instrument deployment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Michael G. Curley, Frederick J. Kim, Michael T. Howard, Erik Delly, Gregory R. Eberl, Jeffrey J. Lesica
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Publication number: 20180042669Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering fluid to tissue during ablation therapy are described herein. An exemplary device can include an elongate body having an inner lumen, outlet ports, and an ablation element configured to heat tissue. A flow resistance of the elongate body can increase along a length of the elongate body containing the outlet ports in a proximal to distal direction. This can be accomplished by, for example, varying outlet port size or relative spacing, decreasing a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen through which fluid can flow using a flow diverter or tapered inner lumen sidewalls, or limiting a ratio between a total area of the outlet ports and a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen. Adjusting flow resistance of the elongate body can provide more uniform fluid distribution or a desired non-uniform distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Michael G. Curley, Gregory R. Eberl, Jason M. Clevenger, Michael T. Howard, Erik Delly
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Publication number: 20170296739Abstract: Systems and methods for visualizing fluid enhanced ablation therapy are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for ablating tissue is provided that includes inserting an elongate body into a tissue volume, heating an imageable fluid within the elongate body to transform the imageable fluid into an imageable therapeutic fluid, delivering the imageable therapeutic fluid into the tissue volume to deliver a therapeutic dose of thermal energy to the tissue volume, and imaging the tissue volume to determine the extent of the tissue volume containing the imageable therapeutic fluid. The imageable therapeutic fluid can indicate the extent of the tissue volume that has received the therapeutic dose of thermal energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Michael G. Curley, Gregory R. Eberl, Douglas L. Packer, Malini Madhavan
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Patent number: 9743984Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering fluid to tissue during ablation therapy are described herein. An exemplary device can include an elongate body having an inner lumen, outlet ports, and an ablation element configured to heat tissue. A flow resistance of the elongate body can increase along a length of the elongate body containing the outlet ports in a proximal to distal direction. This can be accomplished by, for example, varying outlet port size or relative spacing, decreasing a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen through which fluid can flow using a flow diverter or tapered inner lumen sidewalls, or limiting a ratio between a total area of the outlet ports and a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen. Adjusting flow resistance of the elongate body can provide more uniform fluid distribution or a desired non-uniform distribution.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2016Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Thermedical, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Curley, Gregory R. Eberl, Jason M. Clevenger, Michael T. Howard, Erik Delly
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Patent number: 9610396Abstract: Systems and methods for visualizing fluid enhanced ablation therapy are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for ablating tissue is provided that includes inserting an elongate body into a tissue volume, heating an imageable fluid within the elongate body to transform the imageable fluid into an imageable therapeutic fluid, delivering the imageable therapeutic fluid into the tissue volume to deliver a therapeutic dose of thermal energy to the tissue volume, and imaging the tissue volume to determine the extent of the tissue volume containing the imageable therapeutic fluid. The imageable therapeutic fluid can indicate the extent of the tissue volume that has received the therapeutic dose of thermal energy.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignees: Thermedical, Inc., Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and ResearchInventors: Michael G. Curley, Gregory R. Eberl, Douglas L. Packer, Malini Madhavan
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Publication number: 20140275977Abstract: Systems and methods for visualizing fluid enhanced ablation therapy are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for ablating tissue is provided that includes inserting an elongate body into a tissue volume, heating an imageable fluid within the elongate body to transform the imageable fluid into an imageable therapeutic fluid, delivering the imageable therapeutic fluid into the tissue volume to deliver a therapeutic dose of thermal energy to the tissue volume, and imaging the tissue volume to determine the extent of the tissue volume containing the imageable therapeutic fluid. The imageable therapeutic fluid can indicate the extent of the tissue volume that has received the therapeutic dose of thermal energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Michael G. Curley, Gregory R. Eberl, Douglas L. Packer, Malini Madhavan
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Patent number: 7736362Abstract: The present invention relates to catheter balloons wherein the balloon are constructed of hydrophilic energy conductive polymers. It also relates to catheter balloons that self-anchor at a target site in a patient's body. Finally, it relates to catheter balloons with very small cross-sectional profiles at the distal end.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2003Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Gregory R. Eberl, Mark D. Forrest